Policy

On August 7, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14332, “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking,” (“EO 14332” or “the EO”) to “strengthen oversight and coordination of, and to streamline, agency grantmaking” and “ensure greater accountability for use of public funds.”  Sec. 1.  Among other things, the EO:  (1) directs agencies to review discretionary funding opportunities for consistency with agency priorities; (2) provides principles for agencies to use in assessing discretionary awards; (3) directs the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) to revise the Uniform Guidance applicable to federal financial assistance; and (4) requires agencies to include terms and conditions in their discretionary grant agreements allowing for termination for convenience and preventing recipients from drawing down funds without prior written explanation and approval.  Through these methods, EO 14332 focuses on increased political oversight of discretionary funding, ensuring broad termination for convenience rights, and limiting indirect costs.  The EO arrives at the intersection of recent efforts by the Trump Administration both to cancel, terminate, or otherwise pause federal funding viewed as inconsistent with the Administration’s policy priorities and to streamline federal procurement regulations.

Continue Reading White House Issues Executive Order Focused on “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking”

In his first few days in office, President Trump issued several executive orders (“EOs”) and memoranda, many of which may have implications for federal contractors and grant recipients, including the following:

Continue Reading President Trump Issues Numerous Executive Orders with Potential Impacts on Federal Contractors and Grant Recipients

Washington policymakers are criticizing corporate “inversions”—i.e., U.S. companies that reincorporate abroad under lower corporate income tax rates—and contractors should take note.  Currently, U.S. law bars an inverted domestic corporation (“IDC”) from receiving funds under a prime U.S. contract.  See Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (H.R. 3547); see also
Continue Reading Will the “Inversion” Backlash Flow-Down to Subcontractors?